Cheap Nintendo Switch Games: How to Save Big on Every Purchase

Nintendo is famously stubborn about pricing. First-party titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom rarely drop below $40 even years after launch. That is just how Nintendo operates, and complaining about it will not change anything.

What you can do is play smarter. There are several legitimate ways to pay less for Switch games, and stacking a few of them together can knock 20-50% off your total spend. This guide covers every angle.

Buy Discounted eShop Gift Cards

This is the single most reliable trick for saving on Switch games, and it works on every purchase including full-price new releases.

The concept is simple: instead of buying games directly from the Nintendo eShop at face value, you first purchase eShop gift cards at a discount from third-party key stores. Sites like Kinguin, Gamivo, and Eneba regularly sell Nintendo eShop $50 cards for $44-47, Nintendo eShop $25 cards for $22-24, and even Nintendo eShop $10 cards at a few dollars off.

That might not sound like much on a single card, but it adds up fast. If you consistently buy eShop credit at 8-10% off, you are effectively getting a permanent discount on every digital game you purchase. Over a year of moderate buying, that can easily save you $30-60.

Use PcForest to compare current prices across all major stores. Prices fluctuate daily, so checking before you buy takes 30 seconds and can save you a few extra dollars per card. You can browse all available denominations on our Nintendo Keys hub.

Know the eShop Sales Calendar

Nintendo runs predictable seasonal sales throughout the year. If you are not in a rush to play something, waiting for the right sale window can save you a lot.

Here are the major eShop sale events to watch for:

• New Year Sale (late December - early January): One of the biggest sales of the year. Deep discounts on both first-party and third-party titles.
• Spring Sale (March-April): Usually runs for two weeks with hundreds of discounted titles.
• E3 / Nintendo Direct Sales (June): Nintendo often drops prices around major announcements and showcases.
• Summer Sale (July-August): Extended sale period with rotating deals.
• Black Friday / Cyber Monday (late November): The best overall deals of the year. First-party titles occasionally hit $30-35.
• Holiday Sale (mid-December): Overlaps with the New Year sale for a long stretch of deals.

Between these major events, Nintendo also runs smaller themed sales every week. Publisher sales from Capcom, Ubisoft, Square Enix, and others pop up regularly with 50-75% off select titles.

The smart move: buy discounted eShop cards ahead of time using sites like Eneba or Gamivo, load up your account balance, and then spend that discounted credit during a sale. You are stacking two discounts on top of each other.

Regional Pricing Strategies

Nintendo eShop prices vary by region, sometimes significantly. A game that costs $59.99 on the US eShop might be substantially cheaper on the South African, Mexican, or Brazilian storefront.

Here is how it works:

1. Create a new Nintendo account and set the region to the country with the lowest price.
2. Purchase an eShop gift card valid for that region (check denomination and currency carefully).
3. Redeem the card and buy the game from that regional eShop.
4. Switch back to your primary account to play.

A few things to keep in mind. Nintendo does not region-lock Switch games, so anything you buy from a foreign eShop will work on your console regardless of where you live. However, DLC must be purchased from the same region as the base game. Also, regional pricing differences have been shrinking over the past couple of years as Nintendo adjusts prices, so always verify current prices before going through the hassle.

The savings can be meaningful on expensive titles, but for games under $20 it is usually not worth the effort. Stick with discounted eShop cards from your home region for everyday purchases.

Physical vs. Digital: Which Saves More?

This is a genuine trade-off, and the answer depends on how you buy and what you value.

Physical games have one major advantage: resale value. You can buy a game, finish it, and sell it for 60-70% of what you paid. Nintendo games hold their value better than any other platform. If you are disciplined about reselling, physical is almost always cheaper in the long run.

Physical games also go on sale at retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy, sometimes more aggressively than on the eShop. Black Friday physical deals are consistently better than digital ones for first-party Nintendo titles.

Digital games win on convenience and frequent indie sales. The eShop regularly discounts indie and third-party titles by 50-90%, prices that physical copies rarely match. If you primarily play smaller or indie games, digital is the way to go.

The hybrid approach works well: buy first-party Nintendo games physically (better resale value, occasional retail deals) and buy indie and third-party games digitally (deeper discounts, convenience). Fund your digital purchases with discounted eShop cards for maximum savings.

Best Budget Nintendo Switch Games

You do not need to spend $60 to have a great time on Switch. Here are some of the best games you can regularly find for $20 or less during sales:

Under $20 (Regular Price)

• Hollow Knight - One of the best metroidvanias ever made. Regularly drops to $7-8 on sale. Absurd value for the amount of content.
• Celeste - Tight, challenging platformer with a great story. Often $5 on sale.
• Stardew Valley - Farming sim that will consume hundreds of hours. Never needs to go on sale at $14.99, but occasionally does.
• Hades - Roguelike perfection. Frequently under $10 on sale.
• Cuphead - Gorgeous run-and-gun action. Drops to $10-12 during sales.

First-Party Games That Actually Go on Sale

• Nintendo Switch Sports - Drops to $25-30 during major sales.
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Hits $35-40 during Black Friday and holiday sales.
• Splatoon 3 - Occasionally drops to $35-40.
• Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope - Frequently discounted to $15-20 (Ubisoft is more generous with sales than Nintendo).

These are all games where the discounted eShop card strategy shines. Even if a game is already on sale, paying with credit you bought at 8-10% off makes a good deal even better.

Nintendo Switch Online: Is It Worth It?

A Nintendo Switch Online membership costs $19.99 per year for the base plan. Here is what you actually get:

• Online multiplayer for games like Splatoon 3, Mario Kart 8, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
• NES and SNES game libraries with 100+ classic titles included.
• Cloud save backups for most games.
• Exclusive member deals on the eShop, usually an extra 10-20% off select titles that are already on sale.

If you play any online multiplayer at all, it is worth it. The classic game libraries alone provide dozens of hours of entertainment, and the exclusive member discounts can pay for the subscription cost over time.

The Expansion Pack tier ($49.99/year) adds N64, Game Boy Advance, Sega Genesis, and Game Boy games plus DLC for select titles. Whether that is worth the price jump depends on your nostalgia level and interest in the included DLC.

You can save on the subscription itself by buying it through discounted eShop credit or by finding deals on membership cards at key stores like Kinguin. Check current prices on PcForest before buying.

Where to Compare Prices

The key to saving money on Switch games is comparing prices before every purchase. Here is a quick rundown of where to look:

• PcForest - Compare eShop card prices across Kinguin, Gamivo, Eneba, and other stores. Start at our Nintendo Keys hub for the full selection.
• Deku Deals - Tracks eShop sale prices and price history for every Switch game.
• r/NintendoSwitchDeals - Community-driven deal alerts for both physical and digital games.

For game keys and digital codes in general, our guide on the best sites to buy cheap game keys covers how to evaluate different marketplaces and avoid potential issues.

Putting It All Together

Here is the complete savings playbook:

1. Always buy eShop credit at a discount. Compare prices on PcForest and stock up when deals are good.
2. Wait for sales when possible. Major eShop sales happen every 6-8 weeks.
3. Stack your discounts. Discounted eShop card + sale price = maximum savings.
4. Buy first-party games physical if you plan to resell them after finishing.
5. Buy indie and third-party games digital during deep eShop sales.
6. Consider Nintendo Switch Online for the member-exclusive deals on top of everything else.

None of these strategies require anything sketchy or complicated. They just require a little patience and the habit of checking prices before you buy. Over a year, the savings add up to multiple free games worth of money back in your pocket.

Start by comparing eShop card prices on our Nintendo Keys hub and make your next Switch purchase a smarter one.